History
ABOUT US
Rougham Control Tower (originally known as RAF Bury St Edmunds), is a former RAF station, situated 3 miles east of the Suffolk market town of Bury St Edmunds. The airfield was built between 1941 and 1942, and had three intersecting concrete runways. The main runway was approximately 2000 yards long, and ran in an East to West direction.
It was designated for use by the United States Army Airforce. Fifty concrete hardstands were constructed just off the encircling perimeter track. Two T2-type hangars were erected, one on each side of the airfield. Accommodation was provided for some 3,000 personnel in Nissen and other temporary type buildings.
The airfield was opened in September 1942 and was used by the Eighth Air Force. Bury St Edmunds was given USAAF designation Station 468 (BU). The radio identification was 'Chair Leg'.
47th Bombardment Group (Light)
The first USAAF group to use Bury St. Edmunds airfield was the 47th Bombardment Group (Light) arriving from Greensboro AAF North Carolina in mid-September 1942.
The 47th was equipped with the Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber, but the group quickly moved to RAF Horham, as Bury St. Edmunds was still under construction.
On 2 November the 47th was ordered to North Africa, departing for Medina Air Field, 15 miles south of Casablanca in Morocco.
322nd Bombardment Group (Medium)
The 322nd Bombardment Group (Medium) arrived in December 1942 from Drane Army Airfield, Florida, a satellite installation of nearby MacDill Field, where the 322nd originally began their pre-deployment training.
The group was assigned to the 3rd Bomb Wing and flew Martin B-26 B/C Marauders.
Ongoing construction at Bury St. Edmunds forced two of the group's squadrons to locate to RAF Rattlesden. The group's aircraft did not arrive until late in March 1943. Once operational, the 322nd flew two low-level bombing operations from Bury St. Edmunds. The first, on the 14th of May when it dispatched 12 planes for a minimum-level attack on an electrical generating plant near Ijmuiden. This was the first operational combat mission flown by B-36s.
The second was a disastrous mission on Monday, 17 May, when 11 aircraft were sent to the same target, from which none of the aircraft penetrating the enemy coast, returned. 60 crewmen were lost to flak and interceptors. Group morale was not improved when, on the 29th of May, a B-26 crashed onto the airfield killing the crew and damaging a hangar.
After these missions, the group was re-equipped and trained for medium-altitude operations for several weeks before returning to combat operations.
On the 13th of June, the 322nd moved to RAF Andrews Field in Essex.
94th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The 94th Bombardment Group (Heavy) were assigned to the 4th Wing of the 8th USAAF. They flew 3 missions from RAF Bassingbourn and Thurleigh in May 1943. Then flew 3 missions from RAF Earls Colne commencing May 29th 1943. On the 13th of June 1943, their 3rd mission from Earl's Colne, was to bomb U-boat and dock facilities in Kiel. On their return they flew into their new home, Station 468, Bury St. Edmunds.
The group flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign.
The 94th B.G. B17's were given the tail code of an A in a square.
The 94th took part in the campaign of heavy bombers against the enemy aircraft industry during Big Week, between the 20th and the 25th of February, 1944.
Prior to D-Day in June 1944, they helped to neutralize V-weapon sites, airfields, and other military installations along the coast of France.
On the 6th of June, the group bombed enemy positions in the battle area to support the invasion of Normandy. During this time it struck troops and gun batteries to aid the advance of the Allies at Saint-Lo in July, and at Brest in August.
RAF Maintenance Command and Today.
After the war, the field was returned to the Royal Air Force in December 1945. On 11 September 1946, the facility was turned over to the Air Ministry. It was left unused for several months before being closed in 1948.
With the end of military control, Bury St Edmunds airfield's concreted areas were broken up with most of the site being returned to agriculture.
The old technical site was developed into the Rougham Industrial Estate. One T2 hangar is still in use, by a Tea & Coffee importer. The control tower was used for many years as a private dwelling, and has now been restored and is used as a museum.